Renee Robbins, Control Engineering
Articles
Visual Programming for Automation
Graphical programming methods have been around the manufacturing, automation, and instrumentation space for a long time. Software tools—ranging from National Instruments’ LabView to The MathWorks Simulink and including many proprietary PLC and DCS programming tools—are nothing like textual languages such as Cobol or C.
From Consumer Electronics to your HMI
Machine builders, HMI designers and industrial PC users take note: Smart phones and other consumer electronics are changing the way operators expect to interact with machines - and how you will create interfaces.
Advantages of FPGAs
FPGA design tools are increasingly available, allowing embedded control system designers to more quickly create and adapt FPGA hardware.
Wind power control systems go to (temperature) extremes
High-temperature uninterruptible power supply helps Danish control system designers handle Mongolian temperatures up to 55 ºC (131 ºF).
Sensors for High-Speed Applications
System design incorporating sensor technology can make in-process and inspection systems faster. Experts in printing/converting, tire/rubber inspection, robotic palletizing, and more provide engineering advice.
PackML Clarification and Implementation Assistance
The OMAC Packaging Workgroup (OPW) has been busy clarifying the recently ratified PackML standard and, at PackExpo Las Vegas 2009, it announced the availability of an implementation guide developed by Proctor & Gamble (P&G). OMAC technical director, Dave Bauman, also recently responded to some comments made by Dave Chappell through Control Engineering’s Make2Pack/ISA88 blog, furth...
Vision Sensor Helps Robot Rock On
Vision sensor, edge tool software, and a PLC make robot "Roxanne" a Guitar Hero winner-and gives her student-inventor crucial vision system experience.
How to Choose a Controller
A dozen application-specific lists, and more detailed information online, help you sort through controller choices no matter what type of system you're building or upgrading.
Engineering Labs Grow through Gifts and Partnerships
Donations from automation vendors to universities are addressing the skills gap and fueling innovation.
Machine vision’s GigE Vision standard
GigE Vision is a camera interface standard developed using the Gigabit Ethernet communication protocol. In industrial machine vision applications, GigE Vision allows fast image transfer using low cost standard cables over very long lengths. It also allows hardware and software from different vendors to interoperate easily.